Apparatus for treating molten steel.



No. 855.603- PATENTED JUNE 4, 1907. P. S. ADAM$.-

APPARATUS FOR TREATING MOLTEN STEEL.

' APPLICATION FILED MAR. 11, 1907.

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FRANCIS S. ADAMS, OF PUEBLO, COLORADO.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING MOLTEN STEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 4;, 1907'.

Application filed March 11, 1907. Ser al NO- 361,814.

To a whom it 71716717.] concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANCIS S. ADAMs, a citizen of the UnitedjdlStates,residing at Pueblo, in the county of Pueblo and State of Colorado, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for TreatingMolten Steel; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an apparatus for treating molten steel.

The object of the invention is to desulfurize and dephosphorize moltensteel in such manner as to effect a large saving of time,

'material and labor with the highest commercial results, and if desired,to convert molten pig iron into steel. Furthermore, to provide anapparatus for the above purpose, that shall be simple of construction,easy to operate and which shall not be apt to become deranged from longcontinued use.

l/Vith the above and other objects in view as will appear as the natureof the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novelconstruction, and combination of parts of an apparatus for desulfurizingand dephosphorizing molten steel, as will be hereinafter fully describedand claimed.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, andin which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts,Figure 1 is a top plan view of the apparatus and Fig. 2 is. a view inside elevation.

The apparatus embodies a converter 1 which isv built on the lines of theordinary Bessemer converter, and is supported by trunnions 2 that workin bearings 3 secured -to the two side members 4 of the supportingframe. The trunnions 2 are provided to allow the converter to be swungfrom a horizontal to a vertical position with its mouth either up ordown according to whether it is to becharged with molten material or tobe discharged of the treated metal. In order to effect the tilting ofthe converter, there is combined with one of the trunnions a worm wheel5 that is engaged by a worm 6 carried by the shaft 7 of a motor 8,herein illustrated merely in a conventional manner, as its particularconstruction is immaterial to the operation of the apparatus.

The frame members 4 are, as shown in Fig.

2, of channel iron and are connected with the end frame members 9 and10, in any preferred manner, to present a rigid frame'capable ofwithstanding the weight of the converter and its appurtenances withoutyielding. In order normally to hold the converter against turning uponits trunnions, there is a locking device provided that embodies a socketpiece 11 that is designed to engage with a stud or boss 12 on the rearend of the converter, the socket piece being'normally held in engagementwith the stud by a coiled spring 13 that is mounted upon a bar 14 towhich the socket piece is also secured, the said bar being projectedbeyond the frame member 10, and being disposed in the path of anelectro-magnet 15 which, when energized, from a suitable source ofelectricity, retracts the bar against the'tension of the spring 13 andallows the converter to be turned upon the trunnions 2 when the motor 8is started to drive the worm 6. I

The converter is lined with any suitable basic material 16 such asmagnesite dolomite, lime and the like, either in brick form or in bulk,and operates in a manner that will presently appear rapidly todesulfurize and dephosphorize the molten metal in the converter.

The supporting frame is supported for rotation in a horizontal planeupon stud shafts 17 and 18 that are carried by flanged plates 19 and 20bolted to the end frame members 9 and 10 respectively, as at 21. Thesestud shafts work in bearings 22 that are supported upon the foundationbeams 23 of the frame, which latter parts may be of any preferredconstruction, the arrangement herein shown being merely illustrative ofone in which results may be accomplished. As shown in Fig. 1, both ofthe stud shafts 17 and 18 are hollow, the former for the purpose ofpermitting the introduction of a pipe 23 to discharge oil and air or oiland gas into the converter and the latter to receive the bar 14 of thesocket piece '11. The shaft 17 carries a gear wheel 24 that is engagedby a pinion 25 carried by the driving shaft of the motor 26 of anypreferred construction. In order to protect the frame against the heat,ashield or guard 27 is combined with the pipe 23 as shown in Fig. 1.

In the operation of the device, the converter is brought to a verticalposition with its mouth upward and molten steel from aBessemer converteris fed thereto, after which, the operation or rotation of the motor- 8is re- ICC versed to bring the converter to a horizontal position afterwhich the magnet 15 is denergized to permit the socket piece 11 toengage the boss 12, and thus lock the converter against movement on thetrunnions 2. The motor 26 is now started, and the converter rapidlyrotated, thereby bringing every particle of steel into intimate contactwith the basic material, which as stated, may not only form a lining forthe converter, but may also be placed loosely therein. During the timethat the converter being revolved, the burner 23 is in operation,thereby maintaining the metal in a molten condition.

Generally it would not be feasible to supply pi iron to the converterdirect from the blast furnace, for the reason that the silicon would beremoved from it as well as the sulfur and phosphorus, and the silicon isnecessary in order to oxidize and furnish heat for the metal, However,this could be overcome by adding ferro-silicon to the molten metal, butby treating the metal after coming from the Bessemer converter, thisobjectionable feature can be obviated.

By reason of the intimate contact between the molten metal and the basicmaterial, the desulfurization and dephosphorization is effected in muchless time than could possibly be secured with an open hearth furnace,thereby effecting a saving in time that will materially lessen the costof production of the steel. Furthermore, by the simple construction andarrangement of the parts of the apparatus, liability of damage in usewill be largely eliminated, so that cost of repairs will be minimizedcHaving thus described my invention, what I claim as new is,

1. An apparatus for the purpose described, comprising a frame, means forrotating the same, a converter supported forrotary movements within theframe, and an electric controlled locking device for holding theconverter against movement relatively to the frame.

2. An apparatus of the character described comprising a supportingframe, a converter,

trunnions carried by the converter and engaging bearings on the frame, aworm wheel carried by one of the trunnions, a worm meshing with the Wormwheel for swinging the converter through a desired arc, and means forimparting rotary motion to the converter.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

FRANCIS S. ADAMS;

Witnesses:

FRED. 0. Root, GEO. H. HUBBARD.

